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COLUMBUS - State Senator Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) today announced that the Ohio Legislative Service Commission is accepting applications through April 1, 2017 for the 2018 Legislative and Telecommunications Fellowship Program. The Commission will hire 24 fellows to serve in the Ohio General Assembly for the 2018 calendar year.

"Legislative fellows are given a unique opportunity to work side by side with legislators, policy stakeholders and other influential state leaders," said Lehner. "This is an invaluable experience and for many fellows it opens the door to a lifelong career in public service."

Telecommunications fellows aid in televising Senate and House sessions and committee hearings, as well as in preparing educational video productions about the General Assembly and the legislative process.

Fellows are paid $31,200 per year and will receive full state of Ohio employee benefits, with the chance to earn a $2,000 bonus determined by length of service to the program.

The Legislative Fellowship Program is open to applicants of all major fields of study who desire to learn more about state government; no political experience is required. Prospective telecommunications fellows must have majored or minored in a telecommunications-related field or have comparable experience. To be eligible for either program, applicants must have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a four-year college program by the December start date. Applicants with graduate or professional degrees may also apply.

Legislative fellowship application materials must be postmarked by April 1, 2017 to earn consideration for the program. The deadline for telecommunications applicants is April 30, 2017.

“This was a very challenging budget but I feel overall that the neediest in our state have been protected and I hope that the conference committee will continue building on the work that has been done," said Lehner, who serves as a member of the Senate Finance Committee that is charged with balancing the state's two-year budget. "I am especially proud of what we were able to achieve in supporting children in drug-affected families."

"It is an honor to recognize such an intelligent and gifted group of students," said Lehner. "I commend their hard work and dedication in academics and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish in the coming years."

"Serving on the NCSL Education Study Group has afforded me the opportunity to explore an array of best practices contributing to the world's top-performing education systems," said Lehner. "We still have much to learn, but I look forward to working with our partners and state lawmakers to implement some of these strategies aimed at maximizing educational outcomes here in Ohio."

"Legislative fellows are given a unique opportunity to work side by side with legislators, policy stakeholders and other influential state leaders," said Lehner. "This is an invaluable experience and for many fellows it opens the door to a lifelong career in public service."